Come Paddle with Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers!
Public Paddle Planning
For a newcomer to kayaking, wouldn’t it be great to take day trips with people who know the route, help you unload and load your boat, help you launch and land, and include certified kayak instructors in case something goes wrong? That describes NEWP’s Public Paddles.
NEWP’s public paddle events have roots in the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance Special Places Program that offered paddles to the general public from 2000-08. Starting in 2009, NEWP partnered with the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway to host a series of paddles along the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, and their tributaries. Currently, NEWP hosts paddle events throughout northeast Wisconsin to provide a variety of paddling experiences and venues, especially for newcomers to the sport.
Many individuals have voluntarily provided their time and talent to plan and host these events. The current core planning committee is David Horst, Michael Jordan, Scott Thomson and Jeff Mazanec. Several other individuals provide essential input to event planning and support of the actual public paddle events. Contact any of the above with questions or if you are interested in lending your expertise and support.
(Special thanks to Tom Young for his strong contributions to this program from 2010 through 2023.)
Join us for any or all of our public paddles. You don’t have to be a club member, but you might discover that you want to be. Most events cost $15 for adults, free for kids under 16 with an adult. Only $10 for NEWP club members. You can just show up at the launch with $15 in your hand, but we would like to know to expect you. And while you’re at it, be sure to show up with your PFD (life jacket) – it’s an absolute requirement for enjoying our sport! Note that our public paddles are BYOB (Bring Your Own Boat) events.
Here is a list of our upcoming paddle events.
2026 Public Paddle Schedule
Our 2026 public paddle events combine new favorites with a couple old goodies! Plan now to return for the Peshtigo Flowage Weekend and the Appleton Locks Paddle and check out a return to the Wolf River (pending) and back to Two Rivers in September to support their 3rd annual Twin Rivers Paddle Palooza.
June 20-21, Peshtigo Flowage Weekend: This will be our 12th annual weekend tour of the Caldron Falls and High Falls reservoirs. Friday night fish fry and camping at Governor Thompson State Park are a base part of this great paddle weekend. Our Saturday paddle is a tour of the Caldron Flowage into the Peshtigo River and back, unless weather conditions suggest a change. We’ll again enjoy a shared meal at the Woods Lake shelter Saturday evening, and Sunday’s paddle will be a Landing 6 to Tony’s Dockside Bar and Grill round trip. Both days’ paddle routes will be out-and-back – no shuttles required.
August __, Appleton Locks Paddle: Our annual Appleton Locks paddle is locked in, and with a back-up option to reroute to the Heart-of-the-Valley locks if conditions aren’t favorable between Appleton and Kimberly. Drop your boat and gear at Lutz Park, drive your vehicle to Sunset Park and take the shuttle back to the launch at Lutz. When the paddle is over, your vehicle will be there waiting. (We’ll set the date after confirming our club trip and gathering dates in March.)
Backup Plan: Heart of the Valley Paddle: If strong and dangerous currents make the Fox River’s Appleton Locks paddle route too threatening for a large group paddle, we will again shift our Locks Paddle to the Heart of the Valley. This route also takes us through four locks, including the two that form the combined lock. We also will pass under the new recreation bridge connecting Little Chute and Kaukauna trails.
__, Wolf River Paddle: We’ve not hosted a Wolf River paddle for a while, so stay tuned on details for this – likely in July.
September 12, Twin Rivers Paddle Palooza: Join us as we support this public paddle event hosted by the City of Two Rivers as part of an extended paddle activity weekend. Everything starts at Veterans Park on the West Twin River with a variety of paddle outings, games, activities and food.
Suggest a route or venue for future public paddle events!
DID YOU HAVE TO MISS A PADDLE? Even if you can’t Paddle With NEWP, check out our “Where to Paddle” page..